Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Leda and the Swan

Object Description

A beautiful Ancient Roman mould made grayware terracotta oil lamp. The lamp features a long canal nozzle with volutes and a hollowed discus with one filling hole. The discus is decorated with three concentric lines surrounding the moulded depiction of Leda, leaning towards a swan, in the act of embracing and kissing. Anatomical features of Leda are softly rendered and the plumage of the swan is delicately modelled. The lamp’s style refers to the Loeschcke type I, a style popular during Augustan and Imperial times.

Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD

Object History

Provenance: From the collection of Arno Jumpertz, Leverkusen, Germany, 1924-1984. Much of the collection was exhibited at the Neus Museum, 1985.

Object Literature

Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item 1865,1118.250.a .

Object Condition

Condition: Fine. Signs of aging and earthly encrustations on the surface.

Object Details